“We approve the applications following stipulated laws. Those who abide by these laws, their citizenship application will be approved,” Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said, adding that there was a perception that authorities had been unfair in processing citizenship applications.

Muhyiddin said there had been a spike in the number of citizenship applications, with more than 55,000 being processed.

He said a total of 1,641 applications were approved this year, with more expected to receive their Malaysian citizenship next year.

He said reasons for the long waiting period included candidates’ failure to meet requirements for citizenship, such as poor Malay language skills.

In his speech at an event to present citizenship documents at the National Registration Department today, Muhyiddin said he hoped the new citizens would uphold the national language by using it frequently.

“Mastering the national language is the key to maintaining unity among the people,” he added.

In July, a special committee headed by the home ministry and human resources ministry was set up to look into resolving citizenship applications involving some 200,000 people who were born in Malaysia or had lived in the country for many years.